Sunak and Starmer fail to commit to triple lock on pensions

Scottish pensioners under threat from Westminster cuts

The SNP has warned "Scottish pensions are under threat from Tory and Labour Party cuts" - as Rishi Sunak failed to commit to maintaining the triple lock on pensions.

At Prime Ministers Questions, Stephen Flynn MP challenged Rishi Sunak "Will he commit his party, the Conservative Party, to maintaining the state pension triple lock beyond the next general election - yes or no?" but Sunak dodged the question, leading Stephen Flynn to respond "Mr Speaker, I don't think we heard a yes there".

With the Labour Party also refusing to commit to maintaining the triple lock, the SNP Westminster Leader warned "who does he think will scrap the state pension triple lock first, his Tory government or the Labour Party's government?"

Commenting after PMQs, SNP Social Justice spokesperson David Linden MP said:

"It's increasingly clear that Scottish pensions are under threat from Tory and Labour Party cuts - with Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer both failing to back the triple lock.

"Pensioner poverty is rising in Brexit Britain, and households are seeing their incomes hammered under Westminster control. At a time when the cost of bills, food and everyday goods is soaring, it's shocking that Sunak and Starmer want to take money away from pensioners, many of whom are already struggling to get by.

"Worse still, the Tories and the Labour Party are both intent on ramping up the state pension age to 67 and beyond - a policy that will disproportionately hit families in Scotland, and will mean many working people will have their retirement robbed from them by Westminster.

"Unlike Sunak and Starmer, the SNP is committed to the triple lock, we oppose yet another increase in the pension age, and we will always fight to protect pensions from Westminster cuts.

"At the next election, voting SNP is the best way to protect pensions, tackle the cost of living and escape the damage of Westminster control with independence."